Iran's new government continues to suppress criticism by imprisoning well-known critics

The arrest of four human rights activists by the security apparatus, just a few months after the new government of the Islamic Republic of Iran came to power, marks the beginning of a new chapter in the severe suppression of freedoms in the country.

Hadi Ghaemi, director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, said: "It is clear that this illegitimate government intends to sharpen its grip on power by capturing important civil figures."

He added: "The Raisi administration is under the impression that the countries negotiating with Iran will not pay attention to the human rights abuses in this country. Silence means obedience, and if Iran's unjust actions are not condemned, it will be a green light for the government to continue its oppressive behavior."

Narges Mohammadi, a well-known civil activist, announced on October 25 that less than a year after the end of her long prison sentence, another sentence has now become final and enforceable against her for continuing her civil activities: 80 lashes, 30 months in prison, and two cash fines.

This ruling was issued based on a complaint filed by Gholamreza Ziaei, the former director of Evin Prison, an official who personally participated in the beating of Ms. Mohammadi in January 2019.

Recently, Ms. Mohammadi confirmed that newly leaked images from inside Evin Prison included footage showing drops of her blood on the prison floor after a violent assault by Ziaei and other Evin officers.

Ms. Mohammadi, vice president and spokesperson for the Center for Human Rights Defenders, wrote in an Instagram post on October 25: “… I will not allow the agents of the religious authoritarian government to receive even a single whiplash… Also, I will not go to prison even despite being summoned. If they forcefully return me to prison, I will definitely protest inside the prison.”

This human rights activist wrote: "In the 10 months since my release, I have been arrested five times by security forces, which were accompanied by force and beatings, and the arrests are considered arbitrary and illegal. Therefore, I reject all baseless and false accusations and will continue my activities as long as I am free. Civil institutions and the streets belong to us, the people, and we will not lose them."

Meanwhile, attorney Babak Paknia announced in an interview that a four-year prison sentence has been imposed on his client, human rights activist Mehdi Mahmoudian, for calling for lighting candles in memory of the victims of the Ukrainian plane that was shot down over Tehran in January 2019 by the Revolutionary Guards.

Arash Keykhosravi and Mostafa Nili, two human rights lawyers, have also been held in Evin Prison for over a month. Their arrest, along with Mehdi Mahmoudian and several other lawyers and civil society activists, came as they were preparing to file a legal complaint against the authorities responsible for the fight against COVID-19 for “negligence in their duties that led to the deaths of thousands of Iranians.”

The ban on the import of US and British-made vaccines, ordered by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, deprived millions of Iranians of timely access to approved COVID-19 vaccines, causing the illness and death of thousands of Iranians.

This ban was finally lifted by Mr. Khamenei after eight months, when Iranian hospitals were filled with coronavirus patients and the death toll exceeded 100,000.

Mr. Keykhosravi and Mr. Nili are among the few Iranian lawyers who have not refused to accept human rights cases, despite the pressure and obstacles imposed by the security apparatus on independent legal activities. It is worth noting that despite the issuance of indictments, the charges against them have not been officially announced and the date of their trial is not known.

The recent wave of repression in Iran reflects the continuing policy of the ruling regime to intensify pressure on civil society activities, especially by the president and the head of the judiciary, both of whom have been major violators of human rights in the Islamic Republic.

Hadi Ghaemi said: "The international community is facing a test: Will it view Iran only as a nuclear case and silently watch the destruction of the Iranian rights movement?"

Source: Human Rights Campaign